War & Peace Nightclub Parramatta

War & Peace Nightclub Parramatta was an iconic live music venue of the seventies and eighties and was probably the first real nightclub that I ever went to as a fresh-faced 17 year old in 1979. I’d been to a pub or two & seen some bands but this was like, at least in my 17 year old head, the big time! It was a place where all the big bands played. A guy I worked with had a car & offered to pick us up so off we went to Parramatta.

The first hurdle was getting in the door. First up because I was under-age and secondly there was a strange ritual question asked at the door, “Do you intend to partake of a meal tonight Sir?”, and I gave the wrong answer. Back in those days there was some pretty whacky liquor licensing laws and somehow you could get around it by claiming to be a “Restaurant that sold a few drinks” so the meal was compulsory whether you ate it or not. Anyway my mate who had been there before stepped in and explained that I would love a meal and we were in.

The first memories I have of the place is that it was dark & dingy and you could get spirits for about $1.20. I walked up to the bar and I didn’t have a clue what to ask for. This was all a bit sophisticated for me. Luckily they had a drink menu and I spotted something that looked familiar, Bacardi & Coke for $1.20. The other one that sticks in my mind is the “Mexican Missile” which had Tequila and Vodka in it. Tops!

I wish I could tell you some great story about how I saw Cold Chisel there that night but alas, the main attraction that night was a soapy star. Due to the fact that the drinks were $1.20 and I’d had about $25 worth by the time the band came on I don’t remember the guy’s name but he was in Young Doctors.

Eventually I did see some great bands at War & Peace. Names like Dee Minor & The Dischords, Birds Of Prey, The Lonely Hearts and if memory serves me correct, Midnight Oil. What are your memories of War & Peace? I’d love to hear your stories of the place and what bands you saw in the comments section below.

The ole war and peace eh…I saw Geeza there in 80-81 and there was a bit of trouble about the loudness of the band with management and they were turned them down to something resembling a jumbo jet engine from 20 feet.Any way they stormed off stage then returned to play a song off their album “street Life” called “too much goin on here” with singer Terry Halliday looking daggers at the management everytime he sang the chorus.The meal thing was the same at the Bondi Lifesaver, seems silly now, like who was checking whether you bought a meal or not before you had 10 schooners.

I played in a band called Outline and we played at The War & Peace many times, usually to a pretty packed house. The most memorable gig was the night I got electrocuted on stage….for real…. There was a short in the lighting system and in the second last song of the gig – strangely called “Notice Me” – I reached up with the mic in my hand, covered in sweat and grabbed the in-house lighting bar that ran across the top of the stage front, and zap, I copped the full force. Sam Zagami, our lighting guy for years was actually on a short break from a tour with Ice House and came along that night – his brother Steve was our FOH engineer. He was standing side of stage and when this happened, he looked up and decided that something wasn’t right and yanked the mic cable out of my hand which broke the circuit and I collapsed. I owe my life to Sam…..he saved my arse. He told me later that I often did some fairly frantic things on-stage but this didn’t look right. ears later I was used as a lesson in the re-training of staff at Jands for power. Dave, the head tech was actually at the gig and saw it happen…..there you go….the old War & Peace…..

For a few years in the 70’s my wife & I were living in a unit @ Nth. Parramatta & we went to War & Peace this night to see/hear ” Air Supply” ( If my memory serves me right) . They weren’t on,I think they were on there way to the USA for bigger & better things, so we got “DRAGON” instead,& that was great ..We now live on the Gold Coast Qld. Now ,December 2013 we have tickets to see Air Supply @ Jupiters Casino.With a bit of luck they will turn up this time..

War and Peace (WAP) Thursday night 3 bands for a $. The Hitmen, The Reels, The Numbers, Dee Minor and a bit out of the usual the Bushwackers and even Tiny Tim played there and many many more.
The flashing dance floor. The red velourish seats. And a party pie and chips at midnight always tasted good. And a long walk home.

Ol warries, loved the place, would go there most nights during the week and our local Parramatta band Parole played there many a Friday night…I loved the place as there was so much variety in the people, rockers, westies, punks in the corner, sharpies, footballers, and Pat benatar look alikes…Hedly was the manager at the time and I would be drinking double op rum with coke, schooner glass no ice and the music was great,,,loved the heavy metal nights in particular with heaven and such. Many a wild story from there and many from that band room. Great to see you get this site up. A lo of people remember WAP from the day. I have an old flyer which contains our band and others playing there over the week I can send you if you want. regards, Spider.

Great venue especially Thursday nights which were 3 bands for 99cents. INxs were one of the bands I saw on a Thursday night and years later I was telling some Americans how I saw INXS for 33 cents. Street Level and Ward 13 played there a lot. I remember once standing near the hot dog man and getting nearly pissed on by some groupie with her big ass hanging out of the band room upstairs! She did say sorry but seemed qite proud of herself. Probably a grandmother these days.

I was a regular at War and Peace in the mid seventies – if I remember rightly The Angels were regulars there early in their career.
I had one funny incident – I rocked up wearing jeans and white cricket shoes ( no spikes ) and the guy on the door told me no white sport shoes were allowed. I went round the corner and took my black socks off and put them over my shoes and went back to the door – the bouncer pissed himself laughing and let me in – no way would that happen these days – happy memories.

Me and my mates used to get up there pretty regularly for the 3 bands for 99c Thursday nights.
It was usually packed and the ceiling was painted black with tiny globe lights to imitate a sky.
It was a great band venue and even one Christmas eve they had Izzy Dye throwing frozen chickens into the audience, I caught one.
Izzy used to be one of the first late night infomercial people on TV.
Saw some massive bands like INXS, Tatts and many more up there at the WAP.
Should bring it back….lmao

War and Peace. I used to go there heaps. Sometimes after gigs or to see a band or 3. I lived close by and would always try to catch Heaven there. Sad to hear Alan Fryer passing recently and a bit further back, Kelly and Mick.

Yes! The Band Room. Enough said!

There was a girl pretty regular there… “Eva” I think her name was. Beautiful… Everybody stopped when she went in the dance floor. Only photo I had of War and Peace was of her… Till my wife chucked it! Anyone remember her? Great memories.

First time I saw INXS there… Great memories. Some big nights! Or was that mornings?

I remember for a while WAP was real Saturday Night Fever type of a place. Thankfully the live bands grew in popularity and pushed the disco crowd to the side. Also remember WAP had very strict dress rules, then towards the final few years the dress rules became very relaxed. Great place to see a band.

I was a regular Saturday Nighter in the 70’s. That was peak Saturday Night Fever era. I even remember going on a Tuesday night to SNF dance lessons. Sadly I also remember going to a charity night that Anita Cobby was hosting. Memories……

I was a dedicated disco girl… My partner worked on the door in 1978… Trevor Chillingworth and our friend John Unis and of cause George the cook. Songs like disco inferno and lets not forget the golden oldies from Grease… Wow!! If only we could turn back time if only for a day.???

That’s pretty cool. My Dad Barrie Elbourn worked there in the early 80’s and so did my mum.
We are trying to find a Bruce Moir who also worked there around this time.
If you have any info it would be much appreciated. My email is selbourn@gmail.com

Hi Mark i used to live next door to the resident WAP dj Richard Drake Brockman my mate and i used to help clean the place the morning after gigs some of the things we used to find on the floor were amazing. do you or any of your followers have any info on the dj Richard drake brockman
Regards Rick

Does anyone know of a Karen Penn or a Michael (Mick) King that used to frequent the War and Peace back in ’78’? I am desperately trying to find my father Mick and this is where they met. Any help is greatly appreciated! Been searching forever 🙁

Hi, I was going to suggest looking on Facebook. A few Karen Penn’s but appears only one probably the right age and lives in Canberra. Did Karen marry? Is Mick King a Muscian. There is a Mick King on Facebook who is a musio, actually a couple from that time that may have come from the area. Good Luck

Saw the Great Man Billy Thorpe there and even had the pleasure of meeting him and the Aztecs as they came strolling across from the Royal Oak It cost a lot to see him there but was so worth it Saw same band a few other places but non as good as the gig there

Seen many bands there….misex were a standout….and the family hotel at Rydalmere….the local inn at West Ryde hosted some of the best rock acts on the planet…..midnight oil….skyhooks …Aust crawl….radiators and too many to list

DJ was Holger Brockman…worked at 2JJ and did voice over for the then Austero Radio Network….he also does voice over for the ARN….and Radio Today….he is still around……PS Midnight oil played at the WAP in 1977…I have a picture any suggests on how to upload to this site??

I was in a band called the Aviators that played at WAP often in the 80’s.
You have 1 listing for us in the gig list but we were regulars around the time that Tiny Tim played there. Great place to play and we never saw any of the trouble that people talk about. One of the better sounding rooms that we played at.

Hi Jennifer. I certainly was around there in the Early 80’s. I guess my curiosity is whether a girl called Eva. Not sure she ever worked there but was a regular. Stunning brunette that was hard to forget. Last saw her at Stallions Nov 85. At least some memory works. Miss the old War and Peace. Awesome venue.

W&P,
I worked ‘security’ at W&P and later when it became Images. Once we had Billy Thorpe (Most People I Know Think That I’m crazy) playing and the manager told us to make everyone sit down. Just ignored that request.
You know we were living the best decades in Australian music history and at the time we didn’t realise it.

Hi Jennifer….I was the Debbie that you mentioned.It was a great time in AustraIia music history.We never knew it then but it was such great time. Basically got paid to work hard and have fun.It had it’s moments,as I’m sure that you have collection of your own interesting stories.as do I. I remember Linda the DJ and her friend Rebecca.Punkabellas real name was Annette.Caz was a kiwi whose name was Carol…she lived in Hornby.I remember when Barrie and Mary got married we were all invited. John the head of security..orginally worked in the London night scene.Interesting character…used to work for the Crae brothers.Also Anton Domin the French owner. Plus the security guys…PJ…I remember him,Kiwi…a Maori guy.Paul(another kiwi).Barrie who met and married Mary.Lots of memories…great place to be in ones early 20s.

Hello Deborah. Its PJ. How are you. Long time no hear. Yes W&P was a great place to be back then. Lots of music and fun people. Great bar staff. Here is my email. We can chat further if you like. pjlee6@yahoo.com.au
Peter